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Saturday, November 16, 2013

I've never taken the time to post anything like this because I just never know what to say, so I'll just say it as it comes to me. Yes, this is still text and I will have probably edited it a bit before putting it out there, but I'm trying to make this as close to a stream of thoughts as possible. (and excuse the bad grammar)

The past year has been a crazy one. From finally having more than just my foot in the door career-wise to gaining a following of so many amazing people who appreciate art, it has been an eye-opening experience like no other. I haven't done anything crazy or notable (yet!) and I am still very much in the baby stages of this thing called art, but my life has changed more rapidly in one year than it has in the previous 5-6. And I can't thank you all enough for it. Yes, I would still be doing what I do if no one cared, but I am eternally grateful that you do care.

Please know that I read every note, every comment, every email, every message, etc., and as much as I'd love to get back to everyone, sometimes I just can't. I tried to be good about it for a bit, but it is just overwhelming sometimes. So I wanted to take the time to get this out there. And fuck the pseudo-celebrity mentality that some people seem to cling to. I'll never understand how anyone can be so ungrateful. It's about connections, people. Don't burn those bridges. The only thing you should be clinging to is your humility. Please don't forget to be a human being. This is an industry of appreciation. It is way too easy to go the route of the internet troll these days. It's petty and selfish. So fucking quit it!

Recently, I have been showing some work featuring characters for a personal project I started. The response has been incredible, to say the least. I often catch myself sitting here feeling dumbfounded and humbled by the good vibes. Seriously, guys, thank you. It really inspires me to get better each time and I just want to share more and more, which, I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling. Anyway, isn't this the point? We want to tell stories and invite people into the worlds in our heads. I just want to express how amazing it is to see people excited by it. I feel like a kid telling his parents about this incredible dream I had, only, you’re actually eager to listen to it! More people need to break out of their shells and do the things they wanted to do when they first got into this!

Now, about this whole post. I know it’s kind of weird, and it may even be off-putting to the more cynical crowd. Admittedly, I’ve been pretty cynical about a lot of things, myself. But I’m tired of pretending things aren’t worth my time and attention. It’s so stupid, really. (And what is WITH all the cynics being openly cynical? Like they’re all trying to be part of the same club and the membership card is their mutual hate for one another). Please accept my apologies if I ever came across as self-absorbed to you. If you met me in real life you would learn so very quickly how opposite of that I am. I never feel like I deserve even half of what I have. It’s like I stowed away on this high class cruise-line hoping no one notices how much of a dirty pauper I am (holy shit, I just realized that half of everything I say is a stupid analogy). Anyway, I’m just a regular nobody who likes to share the things he does. So, thank you for caring and I hope you continue doing so.

For anyone going to the Massive Black workshop next month, if you see me there and you know who I am, please make yourself known. I would like to express similar sentiments in person, to your beautiful faces. December can’t come around soon enough. It’s going to be amazing.